Louis van Gaal has revealed the extent of the injury crisis Manchester United face ahead of their weekend trip to Bournemouth.
A total of nine first team players will be absent for the away game, with Matteo Darmian and Chris Smalling being added to an already lengthy injury list.
Phil Jones, Ander Herrera, Marcos Rojo, Wayne Rooney, Antonio Valencia and Luke Shaw are also out with injuries but Morgan Schneiderlin returns to the squad after missing the midweek Champions League tie with Wolfsburg.
Added to those missing the game through injury, Bastian Schweinsteiger will also begin a three-game ban after accepting an FA charge for violent conduct.
Although the club’s injury problems are a growing concern, Louis van Gaal is confident that three of the players will return possibly as soon as the the visit of Norwich the following weekend.
“I believe Chris Smalling, Ander Herrera and Matteo Darmian will be back before Christmas.
“Schneiderlin is coming back so that’s not a problem but we have a list of eight players injured and Marcos Rojo has been operated on this week and it takes a long time.
“These injuries are very heavy. Shaw and Valencia have also been operated on and that’s our problem.”
